Man United Striker Wayne Rooney Could be Set to Leave the Club According to Former Old Trafford Legend

Former Man United defender Paul McGrath believes that Wayne Rooney’s omission from Sir Alex Ferguson’s starting XI last night at home to Real Madrid is indicative of a bigger issue and believes that the Man United striker could be set to leave Old Trafford according to talkSPORT.

“It’s remarkable,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. “I’m loathed to question Sir Alex Ferguson’s reasoning because he’s done so much in the game, but I don’t understand it.

“If you see Wayne Rooney’s name on the team-sheet you know you’ve got to be on your game because he can score from anywhere.

“He hasn’t been at his best this season but you saw what he can do in the dying stages against Norwich.

“That would have frightened Real Madrid more than seeing Danny Welbeck’s name on the team-sheet. It’s a strange one for me, I think Wayne’s future is up in the air at the moment.”

The decision to not start with Rooney was certainly one that surprised many and clearly McGrath knows more than most about the running of the club as well as how Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind might work having spent seven years at the club in the 1980s.

Rooney has of course previously requested to leave Man United but on that occasion was persuaded to sign a bumper new contract. The 27 year old doesn’t occupy as the lead striker at the club since the signing of Robin Van Persie but that said the England man has forged a supporting role in Ferguson’s attack and has still managed a healthy 13 goals from 27 appearances in all competitions.